Vibrant Gujarat- Indian Express

The health sector, which was rather ignored at the last Vibrant Gujarat Global Investors’ Summit (VGGIS), has attracted Memoranda of Understanding (MOUs) worth Rs 7,231.26 crore as against Rs 800 crore signed in the previous summits. The number of MOUs signed in this sector shot up from eight in 2007 to 32 this year, the highest till date. Dr J Awasia, the Deputy Director of Medical Sciences, said: “Apart from a huge upswing in the number of projects signed, quite a few number of interesting projects have come up this time.” The GIOSTAR Global Institute for Stemcell Therapy Treatment MoU was signed for a 2-billion dollar investment, bringing home the much-awaited stem-cell treatment that promises to bring hope for many diseases in one go. Among the promising projects signed at the summit are the setting up of a 5,000-bed super specialty private hospital by the Narayan Rutiulaya Pvt Ltd, which will equal the proposed capacity of the Ahmedabad Civil Hospital, which is to be upgraded under the Pradhan Mantri Swasthya Suraksha Yojana (PMSSY). The Quality Council of India has come up with a project to assess and upgrade the quality standards of the rural health institutes like the Primary Health Centres (PHCs) in the state.

The Rs 5-crore project will see investment undertaken by the government, with the Quality Council of India providing technological cooperation. Joint Secretary (Health) Mona Khadar, said: “The first of its kind Naturopathy Treatment Centre at Anand has been signed by the Nisarg Hospital. Naturopathy is an emerging area in the state. This project is worth Rs 7 crore.” A Rs 2-crore Homoeopathic Hospital to be set up by the M L Dhavle Memorial Homoeopathy Institution will be an addition to the homoeopathy treatment services in the state. Medical education has successfully grabbed the attention of investors. The Ahmedabad Municipal Corporation (AMC) will set up a dental and a medical college (150 seats each) attached to the L G Hospital (Sheth Lallubhai General Hospital) at the closed Balakiya Mills site. The Adani Education Research Foundation has entered an MoU to set up a 150-seat medical college in Bhuj. The Gujarat Cancer Society will also set up a 150-seat medical college in Ahmedabad at a cost of Rs 100 crore. Of the eight MoUs signed at the previous summit, two have been dropped and another two are reportedly complete. The remaining four projects are under process. The 32 MoUs in the health sector this time look promising. With the government announcing 60 per cent of the implementation, compared to the RTI documents showing only 25 per cent, at least investment of Rs 180 crore is expected to flow in.